Eli Roth Set To Direct ‘Borderlands’ Video Game Film Adaptation

Lionsgate is bringing the world of Borderlands to the big screen. And Eli Roth is set to lead the project which has been in the works for five years now as its director.

According to Variety, Lionsgate put the project in development in 2015. Avi and Ari Arand are attached to produce through their Arad banner. Erik Feig is also producing via his Picturestart banner. Craig Mazin, the two-time Emmy Award-winning writer of Chernobyl has written the latest screenplay draft for the project.

Borderlands is a first-person role-playing shooter game developed by Gearbox Software and published by Take-Two Interactive Software’s 2K label in 2009. It’s set in the distant future in a sci-fi universe. And it begins with four “Vault Hunter” traveling to the planet of Pandora to look for an alien vault rumored to contain advanced alien technology. In their hunt, the vault hunters find themselves battling the local bandit population and encountering other challenges. But, their ultimate challenge comes in the form of a private corporation army who they have to stop from reaching the vault first.

According to Deadline, the game has sold over 57 units worldwide. Its third installment was released last September and won the award for Best Multiplayer Game at Gamescom.

Randy Pitchford, the executive producer of the game franchise and the founder of Gearbox Software, is set to executive produce the film. Alongside him is Strauss Zelnick, the chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive.

“I’m so excited to dive into the world of Borderlands and I could not be doing it with a better script, producing team, and studio. I have a long, successful history with Lionsgate – I feel like we have grown up together and that everything in my directing career has led to a project of this scale and ambition,” Roth said in a statement. “I look forward to bringing my own energy, ideas, and vision to the wild, fun, and endlessly creative world of the game.”

Roth has been tight-lipped on the details of the adaptation for Borderlands, but he didn’t hesitate to show just how glad he is to get the post. The director celebrated by posting a picture of his face cropped onto the body of one of “psycho” bandits on Twitter. Roth’s other directing credits include Death Wish, The House With A Clock In Its Walls, Hostel, and The Green Inferno. He was also in Inglorious Basterds. 

“I’m incredibly proud we can bring this beloved video game to theaters for our fans around the world,” said Pitchford in his statement. “Eli and Craig, already accomplished and remarkable visionaries, will be amazing stewards of Gearbox’s innovative Borderlands characters and stories.”

“With Eli’s vision and Craig’s screenplay, we believe we have cracked the code on bringing the anarchic world of ‘Borderlands’ to the big screen in a big way that will be a fresh, compelling and cinematic event for moviegoers and fans of the game,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane.

James Myers, Emmy Yu, and Lucy Kitada are overseeing the project for Lionsgate, Arad Productions, and Picturestart respectively.

So excited to be part of the @Borderlands family! Thank you @GearboxOfficial @Lionsgate @DuvalMagic, @picturestart, Arad Productions and everyone for welcoming me in. See you on Pandora! pic.twitter.com/UspqIcoerF

— Eli Roth (@eliroth) February 20, 2020